Adolescent attitudes to illicit drug use, education and support: a qualitative study in the United Kingdom.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Social and Psychological Sciences, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
- 2South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Wakefield, United Kingdom.
- 3Department of Community Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria.
- 4Public Health, Kirklees Council, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to explore young people's knowledge and attitudes around illicit drug use, its prevention, and the barriers and facilitators to accessing support, with the aim of informing the development of preventative interventions that resonate with young people and address their specific needs and concerns. By drawing on these insights, interventions can be tailored to be more engaging, relevant and impactful for young people.Methods
A qualitative approach was used to analyse data collected from focus groups and interviews with young people (N = 97) in the United Kingdom, living in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. Questions focused on the knowledge of young people around substances, the sort of substance use prevention education, or interventions, they would see as beneficial, and the obstacles and facilitators to accessing support for issues around substance use.Findings
The findings suggest that prevention strategies which are likely to appeal to young people should provide non-stigmatizing, harm-reduction approaches to prevention education, which are provided as early as possible. Interventions should provide the skills to enable autonomous decision making, consider including parents/families in education and include trusted sources of support such as those with experience and knowledge of substance use.Conclusions
This study informs the development of preventative interventions for young people by providing insight around the knowledge and views of young people in the United Kingdom. It highlights the importance of taking a multifaceted approach to prevention that considers individual, social, and systemic factors.
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BibTeX
@article{retzler2026adolescent,
title = {{Adolescent attitudes to illicit drug use, education and support: a qualitative study in the United Kingdom.}},
author = {Chris Retzler and Aqsa Naser and Rachel Byrne and Osahon Ogbeiwi and Zoe McCluskey and Rebecca Gunn and Michael Doyle},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1951002},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903179},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adolescent attitudes to illicit drug use, education and support: a qualitative study in the United Kingdom.
AU - Chris Retzler
AU - Aqsa Naser
AU - Rachel Byrne
AU - Osahon Ogbeiwi
AU - Zoe McCluskey
AU - Rebecca Gunn
AU - Michael Doyle
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Frontiers in public health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1951002
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903179
AB - Background This study aimed to explore young people's knowledge and attitudes around illicit drug use, its prevention, and the barriers and facilitators to accessing support, with the aim of informing the development of preventative interventions that resonate with young people and address their specific needs and concerns. By drawing on these insights, interventions can be tailored to be more engaging, relevant and impactful for young people.Methods A qualitative approach was used to analyse data collected from focus groups and interviews with young people (N = 97) in the United Kingdom, living in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. Questions focused on the knowledge of young people around substances, the sort of substance use prevention education, or interventions, they would see as beneficial, and the obstacles and facilitators to accessing support for issues around substance use.Findings The findings suggest that prevention strategies which are likely to appeal to young people should provide non-stigmatizing, harm-reduction approaches to prevention education, which are provided as early as possible. Interventions should provide the skills to enable autonomous decision making, consider including parents/families in education and include trusted sources of support such as those with experience and knowledge of substance use.Conclusions This study informs the development of preventative interventions for young people by providing insight around the knowledge and views of young people in the United Kingdom. It highlights the importance of taking a multifaceted approach to prevention that considers individual, social, and systemic factors.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -